Coiling apparatus



Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD 2,725,104

COILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet l JNVENTOR.

FRN K J W OD ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD 2,725,104

BOILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 195] 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 I tl:

E Q H 8 n i an IN V EN TOR.

TRBNR J. D

ATTORNEY F. J. WOOD 2,725,104

Nov. 29, 1955 COILING APPARATUS l4 Sheets-Sheet 3 RNEZY Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD COILING APPARATUS l4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVL'NTOR.

Original Filed June 15, 1951 FRANK J.WOOD

ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD 2,725,104

COILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ANK J. WOOD Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD 2,725,104

comma APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 1951 l4 sheets sheet 6 FIG. 4A.

JNVENTOR.

FRANK J. WOOD ATTORN TIY Nov. 29, 1955 WOOD 2,725,104

COILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet '7 FIGAB.

INVENTOR. FRHNIi J. WOOD TTORNEY Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD 2,725, 04

COILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 8 FICLG RTTORNEY Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD 2,725,104

COILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 mvuvrox FIG. 6. FRANK J. WOOD HT TO R E Nov. 29, 1955 WOOD COILING APPARATUS 14 Sheets-Sheet 10 Original Filed June 15, 1951 fl om 02.2056

m jomozruzmm N JJOm 02.20! 6 2H Q3 0H om Plu O O MM N2 W5 0 Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. WOOD COILING APPARATUS l4 Sheets-Sheet 12 Original Filed June 15, 1951 m. Obs/MAM 00 P JOK ruzifl o A Wm Mod 4 IUOZU BD N OPEC/MIM- J OU d N UJON. IUZru N om 0252mm mwOH 3OK 0252mm IN V EN TOR.

FRFBNh J D JIJUNt Nov. 29, 1955 woon 2,725,104

COILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 13 CONSTANT VOLTAGE F\ELO SUPPLY4 F'ELD TACHOMETER GENERATOR DRIVEN av MILL STAND4:%' STRIP SPEED FIELD REEL LANE GENERATOR ,1 R ABLE VOLTAGE PRDPOR IONAL WsPEEo FIELD TR\MMF R MOTOR TRIMMER MoToR STARTER 2 2 HELD 202 I, 2144 J SENDING ROLLS MOTOR BENDING ROLLS |MOTORSTARTEZR TENSION 215 2015' 2 REGULATING GENERATOR REF. HE D I'\ I\ FIELD 204 J\ I [m Gcounac #LREEL MOTOR H sTAR'rER TENSION REGULATINGGENERATOR 2 200 REF. FIELD I\ 1\ FIELD f'\ I f\ CONTROL *2 REEL MOTOR FIELD #2 REEL MSTOR STARTE 01 FIELD 201 f\ f\ '205 PINCH Rom.

'MOTO R5 sTARTER} Qk FIELD E] 209 214 Q TRIMMERSTARTING fi [21O RELAY 215 azwums ROLLS STARTING 4cm;

RELAV M211 PINCH ROLLS STARTING FLAG TYPE umn' SWITCH RELAY CLOSED WHEN STRIPENTERS 216 218-LV LAST STAND OF mu.

LIM|T5W|TCH CLOSED WHEN 7fm 226 Udh DIVERTER GATE Is DOWN I219 UMITSWITCH CLOSED WHEN :NZDIVERTER GATE ls oowm \-L SEQUENCE RELAY 1 228d 22Gb ENERGIZEO AT HEAD own sTmp m- DE-ENERGIZED AT TAlLOF4i1$TR|P sEQuENcE RELAY 2 55 2 24a ENERGtZED AT TA|LOFJ 1STR\P M225b g g u gellgganEuaz DIVERTER 24c '21 A4227: 1 E15 SEQLJNENCE RELAHKB m ENERGIZED ATHEAD OF #2 STRIP -;f oE-EnsnslzEowHEwm mvERTER 240a GATE coats up JNVENTOR. FIG 16 WOOD ATTORNEY Nov. 29, 1955 F. J. wooo 2,725,104

COILING APPARATUS Original Filed June 15, 1951 14 Sheets-Sheet 14 3 32:6 219 $EQUENCE RELAY 4 227a E-EN WES? TH up M 222 TIME DELAY CLOSING +221 259 I b TIME DELAY CLOSING 223 I C 2313b '2? 44-207 #1 REEL TIME DE AV CLOS NG TIME DELAY CLOSING 22&

I C 2266b LIMITSWITCH CLOSED WHEN 252\ 5% 5T IPPE csou'r LIMIT IPTCH EDWHEN TIMEDEI Y LOSiNG TIME DELAY CLOSING LIMIT WIT HCLOS WHEN A 2 #2 TR PF 5 ur LIIVH wwcH EDWHEN T IPP N 26 TIM DELAYOPENlNG 255 FIG' 16 Fmwx J. vir g wg ATTO RN EY United States Patent COILING APPARATUS Frank J. Wood, Spokane, Wash., assignor to Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, Oakland, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Original application June 15, 1951, Serial No. 231,836, now Patent No. 2,699,904, dated January 18, 1955. and this application May 28, 1953, Serial No.

13 Claims. (Cl. 164-65) This invention relates to the coiling of continuous strips of metal as they issue forth from the exit end of a rolling mill. More particularly, it is concerned with providing a novel apparatus, including a novel belt wrapper assembly to be used in conjunction with a reel for performing the coiling operation.

In the rolling or processing of metal strip the disposition of the material as it leaves the mill presents a serious problem. It has been found that the most satisfactory solution to this problem is to coil the strip to facilitate further handling. Accordingly, it has been customary in the past to place a coiling block or reel adjacent the exit end of the mill for the purpose of soiling the sheet as soon as it leaves the mill. Various types of apparatus such as belt wrappers have also been employed in conjunction with these reels for performing the coiling operation, the principal functions of these belt wrappers being to assist in wrapping the leading edge and initial turns of the strip about the coiling block or reel.

The belt wrappers devised in the past for this purpose have not proven entirely satisfactory or efficient, since because of their design and construction they have not been able to insure a tight first wrap of strip material about the coiling block. As a result slippage of the coil sometimes occurred, and this gave rise among other things to scoring the surface of the strip, which makes it useless for many purposes. Furthermore, when this slippage occurs tension cannot be effectively applied to the strip and the resulting coils are frequently irregular in shape and difficult to handle.

In addition the belt wrappers that were devised in the past for use with reels or coilers were suitable only for use in coiling strips of thin gauge metal and were not readily adapted for use in coiling strips of heavy gauge metal since the rolls thereon which were brought substantially into engagement with the reel when the wrapper was moved into position against the reel served only as guiding rolls for the endless belts of the belt wrapper. Consequently, the strip was merely guided about the reel by the belts backed up by the aforementioned rolls. Since thin gauge strip is flexible and will readily bend of itself to assume the configuration of the reel, the use of belt wrappers in coiling thin gauge material was feasible. Heavy gauge strip, however, is not as flexible and must be bent by some external means prior to its being wrapped on the reel. The belt wrappers of the past because of their construction could not satisfactorily do this.

The complex design of these belt wrappers and the arrangement of the parts thereon has also given rise to a serious maintenance problem and considerable time has been required to repair them when a breakdown occurred, during which time the entire rolling and coiling operation had to be halted. This in turn resulted in a tremendous loss in production, and in the overall efiiciency of a continuous rolling and coiling operation.

This question of maintenance and repair is most important with respect to the endless belts which are trained 2,725,104 Patented Nov. 29, 1955 about the vertically and horizontally spaced rollers on the belt wrapper. These belts are usually made of canvas or some other like material and tend to wear out in a relatively short period of time. To repair or replace these belts the belt wrapper assembly as a whole had to be dismantled almost completely, because there was no other simple or expeditious way of repairing or replacing the belts due to the complex design of the assembly. The production loss and time consumed because of this is obvious.

All of the above problems become magnified when it is realized that the strips of metal, as they move from the rolling mill, are traveling at relatively high speeds and many hundreds of feet of strip pass from the mill in a few minutes time. Thus, when production is halted for even a short period of time, the loss in the production of strip metal is tremendous and the advantages gained by a continuous rolling and coiling process are to a great extent minimized.

Another important factor in the coiling of strip material relates to the providing of some means for making the tail end of an individual length of strip conform with the configuration of the rest of the coil so that the last turns will fit snugly thereagainst. Otherwise, if the last turns are left loose and are not positively curved or bent to fit the coil, considerable difiiculty is experienced in the further handling of the same.

Where a plurality of reels are employed to coil the individual lengths of strip material and the strips are rolled at relatively high speeds, it has always been difficult, after an individual length of strip material has been wound on one reel, to satisfactorily transfer the coiling operations from the first coiler or reel to another without momentarily halting the rolling operations thereby making exceptionally high rolling speeds impractical and defeating the other advantages gained by a continuous method of rolling and coiling individual lengths of sheet metal material. The use of belt wrappers with the coiling blocks or reels and the method of operation of the former greatly increases this problem and consequently their use in conjunction with a continuous method of rolling and coiling individual lengths of strip metal has not always been desirable.

The present invention provides a satisfactory solution for all of the aforesaid problems. In addition, by utilizing the present invention individual lengths of strip, as they emerge from the mill at a relatively high speed, can be efliciently coiled in a continuous manner and without the necessity of interrupting either the coiling or rolling operation.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel apparatus and method for continuously coiling individual lengths of strip metal.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a novel means for continuously coiling individual strips of metal, of different thicknesses or gauge, wherein the use of belt wrappers is contemplated and whereby the coiling operations can be quickly and conveniently shifted from one reel to another without interfering with the otherwise continuous movement of the individual lengths of strip metal.

It is also one of the primary objects of this invention to provide a novel belt wrapper apparatus which is readily adaptable for use in coiling either thin or relatively thick gauge strips of metal.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel belt wrapper apparatus to be used in conjunction with a reel, and having rolls so mounted thereon at the forward reel engaging portions of the belt wrapper that when the belt wrapper is in engagement with the reel, these rolls on the belt wrapper which back up the endless belts and encircle the reel will not only serve to guide the initial part of the strip about the reel but also to continuously and positively bend the strip metal so that it will take the curvature of the reel and fit snugly thereagainst, thereby allowing the belt wrapper to be used in the coiling of either thin or heavy gauge strip and still obtain a tight first wrap of strip metal about the reel.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means for bending the initial portions of strips of metal of different thicknesses about a reel, so that they will assume the configuration of the reel simultaneously with their being wrapped therearound.

It is another object of this invention to provide novel means for accurately and safely conveying a length of moving strip to the proper coiling means.

A further object of this invention is to provide in combination with a coiling block and the belt wrapper assembly associated therewith novel means for positively placing a proper curvature upon the last turn of a coiled strip so that the last turn will fit snugly against the remainder of the coil.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel means of continuously coiling individual lengths of strip metal wherein the use of belt wrappers is contemplated and whereby the coiling of each length of strip can be automatically shifted from one reel to another.

It is another object of the invention to provide novel means for assembling and disassembling a belt wrapper in the event that the belts thereon have to be repaired or replaced.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel belt wrapper assembly, which will efficiently serve to wrap the initial turns of strip material about a reel, when the belt wrapper assembly has been brought into engagement therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bending roll associated with each reel and belt wrapper whereby a positive and permanent curvature can be given to the trailing edge of each individual length of strip so that the last turns thereof will fit snugly against the remainder of the coil.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ironing roll along with a bending roll for each reel which ironing roll is adapted to engage the outer periphery of the coil at a predetermined time and keep the last turn of the coil folded and in contact with the rest of the coil until the reel is stopped.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel belt Wrapper assembly, wherein the rollers which are located in the forward portion of the apparatus that contacts the coiling block or reel, are arranged in groups or nests, this arrangement being conducive among other things to insuring a tight first wrap of the strip material about the reel.

A further object of this invention is to provide a wrap ping arm for a belt wrapper assembly, wherein certain of the rollers mounted thereon are likewise arranged in groups or nests.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means for resiliently mounting all of the aforesaid nests or groups of rollers.

A further object of the invention is to provide a plurality of reels which are mounted in tandem fashion at the exit end of a rolling mill, and with each one of which a separate belt wrapper assembly is adapted to cooperate together With means for directing individual lengths of strip metal alternately first to one of the reels and the belt wrapper assembly associated therewith and then to another reel and the belt wrapper assembly associated therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel means for continuously coiling strip material wherein the side edges of said strip material are trimmed immediately after leaving the mill and just prior to the coiling thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel pin and hinge arrangement for attaching the belt wrapper superstructure or frame to an undercarriage, whereby the frame may be easily disengaged from said undercarriage for the purposes of repair or for the removal and replacement of the belts thereon.

A further object of this invention is to provide a belt wrapper which because of its compact construction requires but a minimum amount of room in which to operate.

These and other objects are accomplished by providing an apparatus for continuously coiling moving lengths of strip material as they leave the exit end of a rolling mill comprised of a plurality of reels disposed in tandem fashion adjacent the exit end of the mill. A belt wrapper assembly is associated with each of the reels and is movable into or out of cooperative relationship with the reel so as to assist the reel in coiling the initial turns of an individual length of strip metal. Each belt wrapper assembly is comprised of a movable carriage and a plurality of normally upstanding plates are mounted upon the carriage. These plates form the superstructure or frame of the belt wrapper. A wrapping arm is pivotally afiixed to the reel engaging forward crescent shaped portions of these plates. Pin and hinge means are used to attach the several plates to the carriage in such a fashion that each plate is capable of movement in an arcuate path about an axis which is substantially transverse to the pivotal axis of the wrapping arm. A plurality of rollers are mounted on the wrapping arm and a second plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced rollers are interposed between the plates at predetermined points and adjacent the crescent shaped forward portions. Certain of these rollers on the wrapping arm and certain of the rollers interposed between the plates adjacent the crescent shaped portions are arranged in groups or nests.

A plurality of endless belts are trained about the rollers on the frame and the rollers on the wrapping arm in such a fashion that they are normally out of contact with those rollers on the frame and wrapping arm that are mounted in groups or nests, except when the wrapping arm comes into engagement with the reel, at which time these groups or nests of rollers on the wrapping arm and frame cause the aforesaid endless belts to substantially completely encircle the reel. Means are also provided for maintaining a constant tension on the belts. Asso ciated with each reel is a bending roll for bending the final convolutions of an individual length of strip metal so they will be tightly wrapped about the remainder of the coil on the reel or coiling block. An ironing roll acts in conjunction with the bending roll and serves to engage the outer periphery of the coil being reeled and keeps the last turn of the coil folded and in contact with the rest of the coil until the reel is stopped. Means such as automatically operated diverter gates are also provided for alternately directing individual lengths of strip metal first to one of the reels and the belt wrapper assembly associated therewith and then to another reel and the belt wrapper assembly associated therewith. Finally trimming rolls are provided for trimming the edges of the individual lengths of strip immediately after leaving the mill and just prior to the coiling thereof.

These and various other objects, novel features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent, when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view partially broken of the belt wrapper assembly of the instant invention, showing the wrapping arm thereof in engagement with a coiling block and in position to wrap and bend the initial turns of an individual length of strip metal therearound;

Figure 2 is a plan view partially broken of the belt wrapper assembly shown in Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 3a constitute a schematic side elevational view of a mill system showing schematically the tandem arrangement of the coiling blocks or reels and the belt wrapper assemblies associated therewith adjacent the exit end of a rolling mill;

Figures 4, 4a and 4b constitute a plan view of the coiling apparatus and mill system disclosed in Figures 3 and 3a;

Figure 5 is a view partially in section of one nest of rollers mounted on the belt wrapper frame, when taken along lines 5-5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a view partially in section of the belt wrapper carriage and frame when taken along the lines 66 of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is an enlarged side elevational view of one of the bending rolls and ironing roll assemblies shown in Figures 3 and 3a;

Figure 8 is a partial plan view of one side of the bending roll and ironing assemblies shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a schematic view of one step in the continuous coiling operation, showing one reel as it begins to wrap an individual length of strip, the belt wrapper associated therewith being in the proper position, while a second reel is being held in readiness for coiling the next individual length of strip;

Figure 10 is another schematic view of a further step in the coiling operation, showing the buildup of the coil on the first reel and with the belt wrapper associated therewith retracted, while the second reel is still being held in readiness for coiling;

Figure 11 is a further schematic view of another step in the coiling operation, wherein the first reel is shown as completing the coiling of an individual length of strip with the tail end of the strip being formed into a coiled end by means of the bending roll associated with the reel, while the second reel is being held in readiness for coiling the next individual length of strip;

Figure 12 is a schematic view of a further step in the coiling operation, wherein a second individual length of strip is shown as being initially wrapped about the second reel, while as indicated in Figure 12a the first reel is now being placed in a position so that the coiled material on the reel may be discharged therefrom;

Figure 13 is a schematic view of another step in the coiling operation, showing the buildup of the coil on the second coiler while simultaneously therewith the coil elevator associated with the first reel as indicated in Figure 13a has been raised to receive the coil therefrom and a stripper plate is moving the coil off the reel and on to an upender;

Figure 14 is a schematic view of another step in the coiling cycle wherein the second reel is shown to be completing the coiling of an individual length of strip and the tail end of the strip is shown as being bent by the bending roll associated with the reel, while as indicated in Figure 14a the coil from the first reel has been removed therefrom and is now being upended and placed on the conveyor;

Figure 15 is a schematic view of still another step in the coiling operation showing a third individual length of strip as it moves from the mill immediately prior to its being coiled on the first reel, during which time the second reel is completing the coiling of the strip being wound therearound, and while as indicated in Figure 15a the upender for the first reel has returned to a horizontal position and is now in a position to receive the coil therefrom when this third length of strip has been coiled thereon and;

Figures 16 and 16a constitute a schematic diagram of one type of electrical control system that may be used in operating the two reels, belt wrappers, edge trimming rolls, bending rolls, and diverter gates, etc., so that their operation will be automatic and in proper timed sequence with each so that as they leave the mill the strips of metal can be alternately directed to and coiled first on one reel and then on the other without interruption.

With further reference to the drawings and particularly Figures 1 and 3 the apparatus used for continuously coiling individual lengths of strip material contemplates the use of at least two coiling blocks or reels 10 located in tandem fashion adjacent the exit end of a rolling mill, each reel being positively driven by suitable power means. These coiling blocks may be of the usual collapsible type and they are not shown or described in detail herein since they do not form part of the invention.

Associated with each coiling block 10 is a belt wrapper assembly 11. This belt wrapper assembly guides and wraps the leading edge of the strip about the coiling block, until the frictional engagement between the drum and strip is such that the reel will coil the strip of itself at which time the belt wrapper may be removed from the reel. Since both belt wrappers are similarly con structed a description of one will sufiice for both.

Each belt wrapper assembly is generally comprised of an inclined table A; a carriage B movable thereon; a pair of upstanding plates C mounted upon this carriage and forming the superstructure or frame for the belt wrapper; a wrapping arm D pivotally aflixed to the upper forward end of the plates C together with positive means for raising and lowering the arm; a plurality of tension rollers arms E for maintaining a constant tension on the belts of the belt wrapper, and a plurality of rollers F for the endless belts mounted on the belt wrapper including groups or nests of rollers G located on the wrapping arm, and adjacent the crescent shaped forward end of the plates C.

More specifically each belt wrapper assembly 11 is movably mounted upon a table 12 which is inclined downwardly and toward a coiling block or reel 10, by means of the movable carriage 13. As best shown in Figure 6 carriage 13 has rollers 14 suitably attached to each side thereof and these rollers are adapted to ride along the guides or rails 15 located on each side of the top of table 12.

Although any suitable means may be utilized for moving the carriage 13 and belt wrapper assembly into and out of engagement with the coiling block 10, the preferred embodiment of the invention contemplates that hydraulic means, such as a piston rod 16, working in a hydraulic cylinder 17, be used, one end of the piston rod 16 being rigidly fixed by suitable means to one end of the table 12, and the hydraulic cylinder barrel 17 being flexibly attached to the underside of carriage 13 by means of the tie rod 12' and lugs 13', one of lugs 13 being attached to the cylinder barrel 17' and the other being atfixed to the carriage 13. If desired suitable guide tracks 16' or the like may also be installed on table 12 for engaging a guide member 15' aflixed to the bottom of cylinder barrel 17. It will be noted that the inclination of table 12 downwardly toward the reel 10 assists the piston 16 and cylinder 17 in moving the carriage 13 toward the reel 10.

The superstructure or frame of the belt wrapper assembly is generally comprised of a pair of sidewalls or side plates 18. These side plates have crescent shaped forward portions 19 and open mouthed back portions 20. The aforementioned crescent shaped portions of plates 18 are adapted to partially encircle the coiling block 10 when the belt wrapper is in an extended or reel engaging position.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention and as best shown in Figures 1 and 6 pin and hinge means 40 are used to attach side plates 18 to carriage 13. This pin and hinge means includes a locking pin 41, which is adapted to be thrust through holes 42 in the upstanding lugs 43 on the carriage 13 and also through holes 44 in the tongues 45 of each side plate, which tongues interlock with lugs 43 on the carriage. Pin 41 is also provided with an apertured tip 46 and a pulling hook or some other tool may be easily inserted therein when it is desirable to remove the pin.

When disengagement of any one of the side plates 18 from the carriage 13 is required, e. g., for the purposes of repairing or replacing the endless belts on the belt wrapper assembly the pin 41 is withdrawn from the holes in one of the upstanding side plates and the holes in the lugs 43 located on one side of the carriage. The belt wrapper frame is then swung upwardly as a whole, the pin and hinge arrangement on the other side of the assembly being used as the fulcrum point for the swinging movement of the remainder of the belt wrapper frame.

Pivotally attached to the upper horn 22 on the crescent portion of each plate by means of the transverse shaft 23 or the like is a wrapping arm 24 comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed roughly H-shaped plates 25 one for each side of the belt wrapper assembly.

A plurality of vertically and horizontally spaced rollers 26 and 26' are suitably journalled between the side plates 18 and the H-shaped wrapping arm plates 25 respectively. It will be noted by referring to Figures 1 and that certain of these rollers on the wrapping arm as well as certain of the rollers interposed between side plates 18 at the crescent portions thereof are arranged in groups or nests. These groups or nests of rollers will be more fully discussed later.

It will also be observed by referring to the drawings that with the exception of the rollers which are arranged in nests or groups the various rollers of the wrapping arm as well as those disposed between side plates 18 are preferably divided into a plurality of segments 27 so that a plurality of endless belts 27' may be conveniently trained about each roller.

The lower parts or right legs of H-shaped plates of the wrapping arm 24 are advantageously curved so as to form a substantial continuation of the curved outer margins on the crescent shaped portions of side plates 18, when the wrapping arm, as shown in Figure l, is in a closed or reel engaging position.

Rigidly affixed to the lower portion of each curved plate 25 is a bracket 28 having a longitudinal bore 29 therein. One side edge of a deflecting and protecting lip plate 30 is anchored directly to each bracket piece 28 on each curved plate 25 through the medium of a locking pin 31 which is adapted to be inserted through bore 29 and eyes 31' in the upstanding members 32 and 32' which have been previously welded or otherwise secured to the upper marginal edges of lip plate 30.

This pin and hinge arrangement for each bottom edge of the wrapping arm 24 permits easy attachment of plate 30 to wrapping arm 24 as well as a quick way for removing the plate 30 in the event of repair or the like. Integrally formed with plate 30 is a solid nose portion 33 having a tucking roller 34 journalled in the hollowed out portion 34' of the nose plate. Defiecting plate 30, nose 33 and roller 34 efficiently direct the moving strip 135 in the proper path and about the reel 10 when the belt wrapper assembly has been brought into engagement therewith.

Suitably mounted upon the top of each of the side plates 18 which form the superstructure or frame for the belt wrapper is a hydraulic cylinder 35. Each hydraulic cylinder is preferably fastened to its respective side plate by means of the trunnion arms 36, which may be made integral with the cylinder casing and which are adapted to be inserted in the slots 34' located in the standards 35, which are secured to each side of the plate 18. A circular disk or cap plate 36' having a hole therein through which the trunnion arms may protrude is then bolted to the outside of one of the standards and thus secures the trunnion arms in slots 34'. A suitable clip fastener 37 may also be used if desired to further secure the cylinder casing to standards 35. A piston rod 37' is pivotally connected at one end to the forked or bifurcated projection [ill 38 on a wrapping arm plate 25 by means of the pin 39 and is adapted to reciprocate in the cylinder 35. Simultaneous reciprocation of each of the piston rods 37' in cylinders 35 in the proper direction causes pivotal movement of the wrapping arm plates 25 and the rollers interposed therebetween on shaft 23 in such a manner that the wrapping arm 24 as a whole may be brought downward into engagement with or upward and out of engagement from the reel 10. By using such positive means for bringing the wrapping arm into engagement with the reel instead of depending solely upon the thrusting action of the reel as it comes into contact with the belts, the operating space needed for the belt wrapper is reduced to a minimum.

It is obvious that with a slight modification the wrapping arm 24 could be attached to the lower part of the belt wrapper assembly without decreasing its own efficiency or that of the belt wrapper as a whole.

The rollers which are arranged in groups or nests on the wrapping arm and frame preferably do not contact the endless belts 27 until the Wrapping arm has been brought into engagement with coiling block 10.

It will also be observed by referring to Figures 1 and 5 that each nest of rollers on the belt wrapper proper is comprised of a pair of housings 51 one for each side frame 18. These housings in turn are joined together by an enlognated tubular bar 52 which spans the distance between the two side frames. A pair of rollers 26, each of which preferably constitutes a single unit and is not divided into sections may be suitably journalled one behind the other between the two housings and below the elongated bar 52, by means of the rollway bearings 53 and the concentrically arranged shafts 54 and 54'. Shaft 54 may be hollow and is adapted to be located in the bottom portion 55 of each housing 51.

This bottom portion 55 of each of the housings has projecting upwardly therefrom a pair of opposed arms 56 which are integral therewith. The shafts 54 for the rollers 26 are adapted to be inserted in bores 57 in the bottom portion 55 of the housings and are held in place therein by the flanges 58 thereon. The arms 56 are preferably tapered along their length and they are fulcrumed at their upper extremities by means of pin 59 and nut 60.

Pins 59 serve to hold the housing to one of the side plates 18 of the belt wrapper proper by being thrust through a suitable elongated opening 62 in each of the side plates 18, this opening in turn being located adjacent the crescent shaped opening or foiward mouth portion of the side plate, the plates 18 in turn being insertable between the arms 56 of the housings.

A plurality of concentrically arranged compression springs 63 and 64 are also associated with each housing. They are mounted in the recess 64 located between the oppositely disposed arms 56, and plates 71 which may be formed integrally with arms 56 and bottom portion 55 of the housings, and below the pin 59. These springs serve to maintain each of the housings 51 and the rolls 26 associated therewith in an extended position and against the coiling block by hearing against the bottom surface 72 of the recessed portion 64 and also oppositely against the bearing plate secured directly by welding to the side frame 18 with the pin 59 bridging plates 56 riding freely in the opening 62 and being forced downwardly towards the botttom of the said opening.

The arms 56 of housings 51 are also provided with shallow channel shaped ways 56' which are afiixed directly to each side of the plates 18 and wrapping arm plates 25. Each way is comprised of a thick web portion 81 having an eye or opening 81' therein which is aligned with the opening 62 in the side plate 18 and outwardly projecting flanges 82. These ways serve to restrict the movement of the arms 56 of the housings and to keep them in proper yieldable position at all times with respect to the reel.

Springs 63 and 64 are adapted to be preloaded by means of a rod (not shown) having an externally threaded end, when the rod is inserted in the bore 72 located in the bottom portion 55 of the housing intermediate the shafts 54 until the threaded end of the rod threadedly engages the internally threaded opening 73 in bearing plate 65 and is tightened therein.

By mounting the individual housings 51 to the side plates 18 in this manner, each nest of rolls is resiliently mounted and made retractable as the coil builds up on the coiling block or reel 10. Thus the first wraps of the coil about the block can be tightly made since the compressed springs 63 and 64 act upon rollers 26, which in turn act upon the strip thereby forcing it against the reel and to take the form of curvature of the reel even when heavy guage strip is coiled. The arrangement of the rollers on the plates 18 and wrapping arm 24 in nests which are located closely adjacent to one another comprises a substantially continuous line of rollers encircling the reel thereby giving additional assurance of a tight initial wrapping of the strip about the reel 10.

The construction and arrangement of the nest of rollers on and their attachment to the wrapping arm plates 25 is similar to those mounted on the side plates 18 adjacent the crescent portion thereof.

In utilizing a plurality of continuous resiliently mounted yieldable rollers for backing up the endless belts which engage the strip and wrap the same about a reel it has been found that the rollers apply a positive vending force to the strip as it is wrapped about the reel. In other words not only do the rollers serve to guide the strip about the reel but they also bend it and cause it to take the curvature of the reel.

In this way it is possible to wrap either heavy gauge or thin gauge strip material about a reel while utilizing the belt wrapper apparatus of the instant invention. Because of their construction the belt wrappers of the past have not been capable of wrapping heavy gauge material instead they have been limited to operations involving the wrapping of only thin or light gauged strip, since their sole function was to guide the strip about the reel instead of simultaneously guiding and bending the strip.

In order to provide tension on the endless belts 27' at all times there is mounted at the rearward portion of the belt wrapper assembly a plurality of elbow shaped tension arms 75. These arms which are arranged in pairs being joined together by a web 75 are pivotally connected at their lower extremities to the carriage 13 by means of the transverse shaft 76. Suitably journallecl between the upper extremities of each pair of tension arms 75 is a roller 77 which is adapted to engage the outside surface of an endless belt 27'. Although three pairs of tension arms are shown, the number of pairs of tension arms is not limited thereto but instead is dependent upon the number of endless belts which are used and the results desired, provided, of course, there is one roller and a pair of tension arms for each endless belt utilized.

Each pair of tension arms 76 has the forward end of a piston rod 78 pivotally connected thereto by any suitable means such as by means of a pivotal pin 78. These piston rods 78 in turn are adapted to reciprocate in hydraulic cylinders 79. Each cylinder 79 is mounted upon the carriage 13 through the medium of the brackets 80.

Although the rollers 77 are adapted to maintain tension on the endless belts at all times, through proper movement of the pistons 78 in cylinders 79, they are particularly adapted to maintain tension on the belts when the wrapping arm 24 has been retracted from the coiling block and the belt wrapper assembly as a whole has been moved out of engagement therewith. At this time movement of piston rods 78 outward from cylinders 79 actuates arms 75 and rollers 77 causing them to move into the belt wrapper assembly. In this way any slack in the endless belts caused by the retraction of wrapping arm 24 is immediately taken up and compensated for as is clearly shown in Figure 3 by the position of tension arms 75 of the second belt wrapper assembly therein.

By using a separate roller 77 for each individual belt and by operating each roller by a separate piston a constant tension is maintained on each belt independently of the other belts.

The lower forward end of the belt wrapper is also provided with a guideway comprised of a plurality of roughly L-shaped supporting brackets 86. Each bracket is independently secured to a transverse plate 86' which in turn is secured to carriage l3 and a plurality of guiding rollers 87 is suitably joumalled therebetween. If desired a cover plate 88 having holes 89 for the rollers 87, may also be employed to span the gap between the brackets 86. This cover plate is secured to brackets 86 and serves to prevent the leading edge of the coil from becoming entangled in rollers 87.

This new and improved belt wrapper assembly may be advantageously employed with but one reel for the coiling of strip material. However, since in carrying out the method of continuous coiling individual lengths of strip material it is essential that two or more belt wrappers be located in tandem fashion at the exit end of the rolling mill, this arrangement will now be described, where in the preferred embodiment of the invention contem plates the use of two reels and two belt wrapper assemblies one for each reel.

It will be obvious from the discussion that follows relative to a new and improved method and apparatus for continuously coiling sheet material that, although belt wrapper assemblies similar to the one which has previously been described are the preferred kind to be used with the reels, other belt wrapper assemblies may also be utilized in carrying out this method of continuously coiling sheet material. With further reference to the drawings, Figures 3, 3a, 4 and 40 show diagrammatically the tandem arrangement of the two reels and their associated belt wrapper assemblies in position near the last stand 90 of a rolling mill. Interposed between this last stand of rolls 90 and the first reel 10 is a set of pinch rolls 91 and a set of strip edge trimming knives 92 fed by pinch rolls 91. Pinch rolls 91 and knives 92 are positively driven by means of the motor 202. It will also be noted that these knives 92 are located as close as possible to the last stand 90 of the mill. A conventional guide 94 may be pivotally attached to the last stand 90 to insure the entry of the individual lengths of strip metal 135 into the pinch rolls 91, as they move along the first section of the run out table 95.

A scrap conveyor 96 located in the depression 97 of floor 98 continuously removes the pieces of scrap metal discharged thereon by the edge trimming knives 92 having scrap cutters associated therewith and carries it to a suitable discharge station. Bridging and supporting rolls 99 which also form part of the run out table carry the moving lengths of strip across depression 97 to a second set of pinch rolls 101 from which the individual lengths of strip can then be alternately directed either to the first coiling reel 10 and the belt wrapper assembly associated therewith or to the second coiling reel and the second belt wrapper assembly associated therewith. These rolls are suitably driven by a motor 205. A similar set of pinch rolls is located in front of the number 2 or second reel, being driven by a suitable motor 206.

The individual preferred belt wrapper assemblies associated with each reel have been previously described in detail. The various elements associated with each coiling block, which also assist in making the coiling of the individual strips a continuous operation, will now be described.

Associated with each reel 10 is a diverter gate 102 and a guide plate 103, which serve to direct the leading edge of an individual length of strip upward from the run of! table 95 and to an individual reel 10 and its belt wrapper assembly. A coil elevator 104 as shown in Figures 9-13a is suitably mounted directly below each reel and this elevator moves upward and engages the outer surface of the coil, after it has been wound on the reel.

Also interposed betwen each diverter gate 102 and each coiling block 10 is a pair of lower bending rolls 106. Both sets of lower bending rolls 106 are suitably driven by a motor 203. Located above each of these pairs of rolls is a third upper bending roll 107, which is adapted to move downward against the top surface of the sheet and to become seated in rolls 106 and coact therewith as the last turns of a length of strip moves toward the reel so as to cause these last turns to take a permanent set or bend. The trailing edge of the strip will thus be given the proper curvature which will insure its being tightly wrapped about the remainder of the coil. In addition to serving as a bending roll in its downward position roll 107 also acts as a billy roll for the moving strip in its elevated or retracted position, this retracted position being maintained during the main part of the reeling operations.

As indicated in Figures 3a, 7 and 8 this bending roll 107 is journalled between a pair of spaced arms 136 attached to a pivot rod 137. Also attached to pivot rod 137 is an arm 138 which is suitably connected to a hydraulic cylinder (not shown) by means of the link 139. Movement of the link 139 upward upon actuation of the hydraulic cylinder in turn causes counter-clockwise movement of pivot rod 137, and corresponding movement of arms 136 and bending roll 107 downward until roll 107 becomes seated in rolls 106.

Associated with each bending roll 107 is an ironing roll 140 suitably journalled between a pair of arms 141 which are each adapted to be actuated by an air cylinder and piston 142 and 143 suitably linked thereto. Arms 141 are located between arms 136. These arms are also attached to one end to pivot rod 137. It will be noted by referring to Figures 7 and 8 that the holding lugs 145 on the arms 136 for the bending roll 107 engage the ironing roll arms 141 and serve to prevent any downward movement of ironing roll arms 141, until the bending roll arms move downward. Although the pressure in the air cylinders 142 is not suflicient to overcome the opposing thrust of the lugs 145 it will be kept constant at all times and the ironing roll will thus follow the movements of the bending roll and move forward when the bending roll is also moved forward, and retract when the bending roller 107 retracts.

This ironing roll as indicated in Figures 9, 10, 11, 14 and 15 is adapted to engage the outer periphery of the coil as the last turns thereof are made on the reel and serves to keep them folded and against the coil proper until the reel has stopped so that the trailing or tail end of the strip will not flap about or be uncontrolled as it is coiled.

After an individual length of strip has been coiled on the number one reel or the reel nearest to the last stand 90 of the mill, the belt wrapper assembly associated therewith having been previously disengaged therefrom after the first initial wraps of strip material have been made on the reel, the resultant coil is then removed from the reel by means of a conventional coil elevator 104, stripper plate 112 and upender 113 all of which are well known in the art in the following manner.

The coil elevator 104 is moved in a well known manner upwardly for a predetermined distance and into supporting engagement with the bottom surface of the coil. At this time the coiling block is collapsed and the coil is allowed to rest upon the elevator. The stripper plate 112 is then actuated and moves forward to push the coil off of the reel and onto the horn 112' of the upender 113, which then transfers the coil to a suitable coil transfer conveyor apparatus 160.

All during this time, a second individual length of strip material is being fed along the second section of the run out table 95 to the second reel and the second belt wrapper assembly, this second section of the run out table being provided with a plurality of positively driven rollers 111.

At this time also the diverter gate for the number one reel is in a downward position and the diverter gate for the number two reel since it is in an upward position permitting this second individual length of strip to be fed to the number two reel, where it is coiled and removed therefrom in the same manner as the first strip was coiled on the first reel.

By referring particularly to Figures 9l6a the automatic operation of the entire apparatus in continuously coiling individual lengths of strip will be more apparent. In the starting position as shown in Figure 9 both reels 10 are empty; upenders 113 are in a position to receive the coils from both the reels; belt wrappers 11 are in engagement with the reels; both bending rolls 107 and ironing rolls 140 are retracted; pinch rolls 101 and are closed; both diverter gates 102 are up, and both coil elevators 104 are in a lowered position.

The motors 200 and 201 for the numbers one and two reels, edge trimmer motor 202, motor 203 for the numbers one and two sets of lower bending rolls 106, motors 205 and 206 for the numbers one and two sets of pinch rolls are started through conventional-type D. C. motor resistance accelerating starters 200', 201., 202, 203' and 205' by means of pushbutton switches 207, 208, 209, 210 and 211. These switches can be actuated by an operator in the control station 170 located adjacent the mill:

The closing of pushbutton switch 207 causes the energization of reel one motor relay 212, which in turn closes switches 2120, thereby closing the circuit to the number one reel motor starter 200. Relay 212 also acts to close switch 212b in the number one bending roll close valve circuit and switch 212C in the holding circuit for relay 212. The closing of pushbutton switch 208 causes the energization of reel two motor relay 213, which in turn acts to close switch 213a, thereby closing the circuit to the number two reel motor starter 201. Switch 213b is also closed in the number two bending roll close valve circuit as well as switch 213s in the auxiliary holding circuit for relay 213. The closing of pushbutton switch 209 causes the energization of the edge trimmer starting relay 214, which in turn operates to close switch 214a, thereby closing the circuit to the trimmer motor starter 202' which then operates to start trimmer motor 202.

The closing of pushbutton switch 210 causes the energization of the bending rolls starting relay 215, which in turn operates to close switch 215a, thereby closing the circuit to the starter 203' for the motor 203 which operates both sets of the lower bending rolls 106.

The closing of pushbutton switch 211 causes the energization of the pinch rolls starting relay 216, which in turn operates to close switch 216a, thereby closing the circuit to the starter 205' for the motors 205 and 206 of the number one and two sets of pinch rolls 101 and 115.

These motors for the reels, trimmer, bending rolls and pinch rolls will operate at such a speed as is necessary to match the mill speed, this matching being done with a variable voltage generator 217, which receives its excitation from a tachometer on the fifth or last mill stand.

As the leading edge of the first individual length of strip to be reeled leaves the fourth stand of the mill, it trips and closes a flag-type limit switch 218 suitably located between the fourth and fifth stands of the mill. The closing of limit switch 218 actuates relay 219, which in turn then operates to close switches 2190, 219b, and to open switches 2190 and 219d. The closing of switch 219a in turn causes the energization of the first sequence relay 220. Energization of relay 220 causes the closing of switches 220a, 220b, 2200, and actuation of a suitable timer 221. The contacts of timer 221 close after sufficient time has elapsed to allow the strip to be wrapped a few turns on the first reel with the assistance of the first belt wrapper. At this point the contacts of the timer 221 close causing the closing of switch 221a so that down 

